Vilardi scores game winner again
Center’s third-period goal breaks scoreless tie and Quick shuts down befuddled Wild.
Gabe Vilardi scored his second consecutive gamewinning goal, Jonathan Quick made 22 saves and the Kings defeated the Minnesota Wild 1-0 on Tuesday night.
Vilardi beat Marc-Andre Fleury between his legs on a one-timer from the high slot with 6:03 left.
That was all Quick needed as he posted his second shutout against the Wild and the 57th of his distinguished career. He is second among active goalies in shutouts.
Anze Kopitar and Drew Doughty had the assists on Vilardi’s 10th goal of the season to help the Kings earn their third consecutive home win.
Fleury stopped 29 shots. Kirill Kaprizov received a match penalty for a retaliatory cross-check to the jaw of Doughty with 5:12 remaining in the second period.
The Kings, however, could not score on the subsequent five-minute power play.
The closest thing to a goal through the first two periods came when Kings forward Arthur Kaliyev used an obvious high stick to put the puck in the net at 8:30 of the second.
Notes
Kings forward Quinton Byfield has been lent to the AHL for a rehabilitation assignment after missing six games because of illness . ... Wild forward Marcus Foligno (upper body) participated in a morning skate and could return as soon as Friday at Seattle . ... The Wild took three shots in the first, their fewest in any period this season.
Up next
The Kings play host to the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night.
The Wild face the Ducks on Wednesday night.